The Bone Eater, Ossifra. Of white, piercing eyes and distinct features resembling that of a bloody-red and black, bearded vulture. Overshadowing the view of any before it, the colossal held a stature that easily dwarfed even Kortbos, a Giant, as it boasted a wingspan that could reach both sides of the arena with ease. It was an Elder Vulture, a type of rank I hadn’t ever seen until now.

Still, its appearance did hold some similarities to the lesser flocks that occupied the northwestern coast ranges of the Ganhurs Mountains. An area in MO that was simply just another farming spot for lower leveled players. Yet, it was that tidbit of knowledge, coupled with the evidence of the creature before me, that left me with a curious association. That Ossifra reminded me a bit of the Lesser Lich, Gahell.

Another oddity amongst their own kind, huh? Kortbos was considered a hero, hence the possible ‘evolution’ into a Special Beast. But Gahell was simply an Undead, a Lich, that was out of its natural zone—in broad daylight at that.

I couldn’t help but underrate the Lesser Lich. It was defeated with a lack of difficulty after all. Its true value came from it being named with a title, while also being below the level requirement.

Something that would be unachievable under normal circumstances, if I were to only work off what I know. But...

“I, Gahell, shall claim my right of evolution with the chance bestowed upon me!”

From what he said... A chance bestowed upon him. Ah. That doesn’t sit right with me at all. Why does something feel so off about this?

“Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssh!”

“!?”

It was akin to a blaring reminder, one that was advising me to not allow my mind to stray any further from here on out. And my body immediately tensed as that sudden raspy noise continued from the non-moving Ossifra. It sounded like grating metal was filling the air, yet only the breeze sauntering through the torn flower fields instigated any signs of movement. And sadly, that didn’t last for too long either.

Is it finally readying itself?! The wings are moving!

Its gaze didn’t even budge slightly as Ossifra’s wings began to slowly spread open. It truly embodied an ideal ‘predator with eyes on their prey’ mentality. And that only convinced me further that I was certainly that prey after all.

There’s only so much I can prepare here... And once I start...

I would be at Ossifra’s whim, meaning I wouldn’t have a moment of rest until the winged beast decided I could. I took a deep and discreet breath, as preparation began in the palm of my hand that was hidden behind my back. A small and condensed sphere of air and magic—a simple [Force Push]. Without my stave or quarterstaff, it would lack strength, but it was the only tool at my disposal. It wasn’t as if the current objective was to damage Ossifra, since that wouldn’t be possible to begin with.

That’s right. I just need to make it over there...

A short glance toward my stave that was lying on the floor, that’s all it was. And that was my mistake. Ossifra had noticed such a swift and momentary change in my attention as it immediately shot forward.

“Shit—!”

A fraction of a second after leaping to my left side, Ossifra’s beak slammed into the ground where I was previously standing. I lost my footing, stumbling in response to the vibration from the assault, but it wasn’t over yet. From a tumble into a roll, with a jagged pain coursing through me, I forced myself to my feet and placed my palm outward behind me.

“Casting: [Force Push]!”

“KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Its shriek was a screeching whistle, burrowing into my eardrums for only a short moment. That noise then became replaced with another slam of its beak. Still, there was now enough distance between Ossifra and me.

“Got it!”

It was a success as I was able to grab my weapon and begin preparing for a counterattack. Yet, as I raised my stave, that was immediately put on hold as gusts of wind swallowed all efforts toward retaliating.

“KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

I covered my face with my arms, struggling to even keep my eyes open against the wind’s onslaught. Ossifra had begun flapping its wall-like wings, seemingly raising its entire body in the process.

Is it...withdrawing or attacking?! I can’t...

Engulfing the field of petals and debris in one final flurry, it shot upward, above and beyond, as I immediately lost sight of the winged beast amid the cloudy sky. I could feel my limp body almost drop in reaction. I was able to fully breathe for a slight moment without those dagger-like eyes on me.

“But there’s no way that’s the end of this, is it...?”

I looked above, searching the sky for any kind of movement.

“No, I doubt that. If Ossifra’s status is anything to go by, then it must be preparing for another assault. Well, I’ll be more than happy if I were wrong about that. Very much. Please let it be so...”

I dragged my hand across my body as I sighed and prayed, checking for every wound and determining my overall state. I didn’t allow my eyes to leave the sky for a single second until a voice came from behind.

“Yoooo! Human!”

Turning my head, I could make out Zaeh in the distance while Baccas trailed behind her. I squinted at the sight of the duo, but it wasn’t because I couldn’t exactly see them. Baccas’ expression was rather heavy—exhausted and annoyed—as it looked as if he were being dragged along by Zaeh. And he was, as she held onto one side of his weapon while he held the other.

“Were you fighting against that huge thing?! How unfair! It looked preeeeeeetty damn strong too! Ah! I’m itching to go against it myself. When is it coming back?! Do whatever you did again and call it down!”

Zaeh was ecstatic, beaming with a smile of excitement and a glimmer in her suddenly star-like eyes. There was even an odd flicker in her tail. She then immediately began scanning the sky, frantically in search of her new target as Baccas had crossed his arms and was shaking his head. His weapon, wrapped in those arms, as if he were relieved that she had finally let go.

“We came out as soon as we could, but it looks like we may have missed it? What was it here for anyway? No one could give us any details inside.”

“I can’t say for sure. Its name is apparently Ossifra, the Bone Eater. It randomly arrived at the end of our fight...”

Hm? That’s right, what ever happened to Yojim? Is he even still alive...?

I had completely forgotten about him. I had sent him into the arena’s walls with [Scaling Bole], but I hadn’t seen him ever since. And as I looked in the direction of that aftermath from earlier, there sat a man, seemingly drinking something in the distance—fine and dandy as anyone could be.

Was that bastard just watching from over there this whole time?!

I was annoyed now. I didn’t really want the guy to die or anything, but my [Spiritstaff of the Auburn Giant] was destroyed in the fight against him. It just somewhat pissed me off that he was nonchalantly having a peaceful drink after all that. Even more so whenever I imagined Vaalyun’s reaction to his gift being broken.

Ah. I’m already shaking.

I could feel a set of shivers kick in at the thought of having to deal with him. His reaction in my mind was too vivid for my comfort. I’d most certainly have to figure out a way to get it fixed before ever going back to Dormou.

“Ossifra? I think we’ve heard that name before, haven’t we, Baccas?”

“Yeah, we have. It was formally reported to the Old Palisade a few years ago. The guild has had a bounty on it for just as long too. It wreaked havoc throughout the continent and then disappeared. That being said...”

Baccas then turned toward me with a look of suspicious doubt.

“Are you sure that’s what it was? Do you have any proof?”

“Well, I used...”

I hesitated, since explaining the how would involve me having to divulge the skill, [Investigate]. Throughout the tournament, I had constantly showcased abilities beyond what I had any intention of using, failing in the idea of being ‘covert’ as Marna had advised. Seeing and speculating is one thing though, hearing about it from the source and having it confirmed is another.

I shouldn’t say anything more. But what kind of excuse could I even give here...?

“That’s right, that creature is named Ossifra. It’s an Elder Vulture and the same one that is named in the bounty list at the Old Palisade. Though, whether it is or isn't shouldn't matter at this point. It has every intention of killing you too if you continue to stand here.”

It was a familiar voice, but it wasn’t coming from the two standing near me. And as I turned toward him, I was taken aback that he even decided to join us. It was Yojim, shaking an almost empty flask in his hand. And on closer inspection, it held a resemblance that was closer to a potion.

Oh, that's right. He's also an Apothecary, isn't he? So that's why he's already healed. It makes me wonder though, do potions in this world hold a similar demerit to MO's system? I haven't had a chance to test it out myself.

In MO, potions had a timer as a perishable good. You'd only ever bring just enough for a raid or two. Keeping any on you at any given point outside that and it was a complete waste, since after the time limit, it would be considered putrid and trashed. An Apothecary could make serious coin by camping outside dungeons thanks to that system too. They were able to simply make them on the spot after all.

“Aaaah!!! You’re that masked prick, ain'tcha?! Listen here, you... Hm? Pfft. Looks like you got your ass finally handed to you, huh? Pfft. It's a good look on you, way better than that shoddy mask. Hahaha!"

Zaeh was swift to approach Yojim, shifting from a tone of anger to one that couldn't hold in her laughter in between her words as she looked over him. He was healed, closed wounds and all, but his attire was practically in shreds.

"Hold on. Killing us too? Swordsman, what do you mean by that exactly?"

"If you're near Ossifra's true target, you'll get wrapped in and considered as a threat. It's that simple. You're better off not getting involved here."

So I was right after all.

Yojim’s glance my way immediately reaffirmed his declaration and my assumption. I was Ossifra’s target. But something irked me as I glared back at him. Ossifra’s arrival made it apparent that he went against his original statement.

“There’s no need to involve others—just you and I.”

“I’m surprised you could even call for an ally that quickly on the cusp of defeat.”

“I could say the same for you and her appearance in the middle of our fight.”

Ah. Okay. He got me there. But it's not as if I called for her myself, you know? There's definitely a difference, right?

"It sounds like you're rather close to Ossifra. And honestly, I don't think I like the thought of that, Swordsman..."

Hostility drenched the air now as Baccas began to ready himself and his blade toward Yojim's direction. Zaeh slowly returned back near Baccas, grinning as she reached for her retracted, wand-like whip.

"Oh? You're looking to fight him, here and now, then Baccas? I'm game! I'd rather take him on personally, by myself as payback, but I'm totally fine with this too!"

"Wait, Zaeh, before that... I want to hear it directly from your own mouth, Swordsman. What is your connection to that monster?"

Yojim had yet to even reach for his own weapon as he kept his gaze on the ground under us. He closed his eyes and gave a light sigh, speaking in an exhausted tone.

"Ossifra belongs to a partner of mine, but she's simply acting out on her own. That's not me giving an excuse here, as I take responsibility for its appearance either way."

With another glance toward me, he continued.

"It wasn't a part of the original plan I had in mind. When I said I didn't want to involve others, I meant it. But now..."

Yojim's gaze drifted toward the sky, and as it did, a sudden shadow began to eclipse our surrounding area.

"All I can do is deal with the consequences myself. Skill—"

It was abrupt, too sudden to even react to as Yojim flashed his blade with an unmatched speed.

“—[Haling Wind].”

An instantaneous pressure smacked against the three of us that stood across from Yojim, and while using his own strike as leverage, he pushed his body back in the process. Before I could question the why, the shadow shrunk at our previous position and I realized what was going on. Ossifra had finally descended, and it seemed as if it were far stronger this time around.

He saved us…?

The descent of the winged beast slammed into the ground once more, shattering the arena with a staggering force unlike before. And once again, I was brought to the ground as my body rolled through the torn flower fields. Yet, they began to flicker and distort around me as they slowly faded away. Ossifra’s attack had essentially shut down the arena’s special feature.

“KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

It had no intention of stopping and waiting for us now. It lifted its wings, dropping its neck and head toward its chest and began approaching me with a daunting strut. I readied my stave in preparation, but Ossifra immediately reacted—a swift flap of its wings—and gusts of wind forced me back into blocking.

I can’t do anything…?! This is…bad…!

The Bone Eater had already reached me as it readied to strike with its beak. I gritted my teeth as I was too powerless to even defend properly.

“Skill: [Aegis Projection]!”

A now unfamiliar voice, yet this one arrived shouting, as a set of runic inscriptions formed above me. And with it came a shell-like shield, one that immediately blocked Ossifra's assault just in time. And still, Ossifra refused to back down as it continued to apply pressure against the newly formed shield. The man's voice heavily implied that he wasn't having any of that though.

"Tsk. It isn't going to be that easy for you! Skill: [Runic Rebound]!"

The runic inscription glowed brightly as a metallic sound rang loudly, pushing off the Bone Eater’s assault. Backing away, it fluttered its wings, bringing the gusts of wind back to the forefront as it retreated back into the sky.

It withdrew again… Is it being overly cautious for some reason? That aside…

I immediately looked toward where the voice was coming from. An older man with grayish-hair and dulled silver armor stepped forth. I could remember him from watching his fights during the tournament. He had also been standing by the Queen of Cretho during her speech. It was Vostoun, a General in the Crethian army.

“Are you okay, kid? Glad to see I could make it in time.”

"Ah, thanks—"

Kid…? Come on, even you?! Do I...do I really look like one…?

At this point, I couldn’t even tell anymore due to how many people had referred to me as such. The anger of it didn’t even bother to set in, I was simply left with just confusion and self-evaluation on the matter.

“You two over there… Oh, it seems like neither of you are injured. Good. Listen up. I’ll be taking charge from here on out, so gather around and let us discuss our strategy before it returns.”

“Taking charge…?”

The words slipped from my mouth as I slowly dusted off my robes.

“Indeed. I’ve seen all of you fight in the tournament. I believe it’s best if we group together and fight against that strange beast. And it’s only natural that I take command. Hm? Looks like there’s another over there too.”

Following Vostoun’s line of sight, I could see Yojim begin walking towards us once again. His blade was sheathed as he began fixing his clothes to the best of his ability.

“Good, that makes five of us. That should be enough. Now, shall we move on to our discussion? I doubt we have much time before it arrives again."